Sunscreen Composition with Non-Ionic Surfactant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sunscreen compositions face challenges in achieving high Sun Protection Factor (SPF) while maintaining low levels of sunscreen agents, which are costly and subject to regulatory limitations, and sensory properties are affected by high sunscreen concentrations.
Innovation Solution
A high SPF sunscreen composition comprising dibenzoylmethane or its derivative, an oil-soluble UV-B sunscreen, and a non-ionic surfactant from the alkyl phenol ethoxylate class with a high HLB, combined in a cosmetically acceptable base, achieving enhanced SPF benefits at low sunscreen concentrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high levels of UV-A and UV-B sunscreens are incorporated to achieve high SPF, then sun protection is improved, but cost increases and sensory properties are affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a non-ionic surfactant as an intermediary substance that mediates between the sunscreen agents and the skin. This surfactant enhances the penetration and efficacy of the sunscreen agents, allowing lower concentrations to achieve the same SPF protection, thereby reducing cost and improving sensory properties while maintaining sun protection effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the concentration parameter of sunscreen agents from high levels (traditionally 10-20% or more) to low levels (0.1-5%), while compensating for this parameter change through the addition of the non-ionic surfactant that enhances the effectiveness of the reduced sunscreen concentration, thus achieving high SPF with lower costs and better sensory properties
2Reliability
If high levels of sunscreens are incorporated to achieve high SPF, then sun protection is improved, but regulatory limitations and safety concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the concentration parameter of sunscreen agents from high levels to low levels (0.1-5%), which falls within safer regulatory thresholds. The non-ionic surfactant is added to compensate for the reduced concentration, maintaining effective sun protection while staying within regulatory safety limits for ingredient concentrations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a non-ionic surfactant as a temporary enhancer that facilitates the absorption and effectiveness of the sunscreen agents at lower concentrations. This surfactant acts as a bridge that allows the system to achieve protective effects without relying on high concentrations of potentially problematic sunscreen ingredients, thus navigating regulatory and safety constraints
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition provides SPF values higher than 20 with reduced amounts of total organic sunscreens, maintaining stability and viscosity, and reducing costs, while ensuring effective photoprotection against UV-A and UV-B radiation.
Implementation Method 1
a non-ionic surfactant selected from the class of alkyl phenol ethoxylates having HLB greater than 15
Implementation Method 2
Solar radiation includes about 5% ultraviolet (UV) radiation, wavelength of which is between 200 nm and 400 nm
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a high SPF sunscreen composition. There is a problem of achieving high SPF while keeping the total amount of sunscreens in the compositions relatively low. It is desirable, that the enhanced SPF benefit could be achieved through synergistic interaction of commonly used ingredients, thereby the present applicants have been working on solving this problem and have surprisingly found that cosmetic compositions comprising dibenzoylmethane or its derivative in combination with an oil soluble UV-B sunscreen when incorporated in a sunscreen composition along with a non-ionic surfactant of a select class meeting certain HLB requirements, provide the enhanced SPF benefits when applied on the substrate of interest.